In this episode of our Road To A Cure series, we talk with oncologist and researcher Dr. Erika Hamilton about the practice-changing developments of the past 15 months. This is a timely discussion as research continues to catch up to need in our lives with metastatic breast cancer.

2022 brought the big news that an anti-body drug conjugate, Enhertu, was delivering results in people with what was then known as HER2-negative breast cancer. Suddenly the term HER2-Low was everywhere. Of course, the news in 2022 didn’t stop with Enhertu and here we talk about how the big developments of last year are continuing into 2023. We find out what is coming in each subtype, where there are challenges, and what research is making news right now.

Dr. Hamilton is the Director of Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Research at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, as well as a partner with Tennessee Oncology PLCC. She currently serves on ASCO’s Cancer Research Committee as well as the 2023-2025 Scientific Committee Co-Chair of the ESMO Breast Cancer Meeting.

Additional Resources

Nov 28, 2022

Dr. Hamilton on Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2+ Breast Cancer 

Sept 12, 2022

Dr. Hamilton, from ESMO 2022 | Combination therapies incorporating ADCs in breast cancer

Clinical Trials Mentioned in this Episode

DESTINY Clinical Trials are ongoing and are studying a range of potential uses for trastuzumab deruxtecan (TDXd; Enhertu).

DESTINY Breast 03: Trastuzumab deruxtecan versus trastuzumab emtansine in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

PATINA: A randomized, open label, phase III trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Palbociclib + anti-HER2 therapy + endocrine therapy vs. anti-HER2 therapy + endocrine therapy after induction treatment for hormone receptor positive (HR+)/HER2-positive MBC.

patritumumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd)

DAISY: Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) for advanced breast cancer patients, regardless of HER2 status: A phase II study with biomarkers analysis as well as this additional study.

EMERALD: Phase 3 trial of Elacestrant vs. standard of care for the treatment of patients with ER+/HER2- advanced breast cancer

SERENA-2: Phase 2 randomized, open-label, parallel-group, multi-center study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of oral AZD9833 versus intramuscular (IM) fulvestrant in women with advanced breast cancer.

SERENA-4: Phase 3 comparison of AZD9833 (camizestrant) plus palbociclib, versus anastrozole plus palbociclib, for patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer who have not previously received systemic treatment for advanced disease

SERENA-6: The study is intended to show superiority of AZD9833 in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitor (palbociclib or abemaciclib) versus aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole or letrozole) in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitor in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-negative) metastatic breast cancer with detectable ESR1 mutation.

CAPItello: Phase III, double-blind, randomized study assessing the efficacy of capivasertib + fulvestrant vs placebo + fulvestrant for the treatment of patients with locally advanced (inoperable) or metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer following recurrence or progression on or after AI therapy.

Meet the Guest of the Episode

Dr. Hamilton serves as the director of breast cancer and gynecologic cancer research for Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), and cares for patients facing breast and gynecologic cancer. In Dr. Hamilton’s role, she oversees the program and the clinical trial menu for these cancers across the SCRI network.

Dr. Hamilton joined SCRI in 2013 as an investigator in drug development for women’s cancers, and has served as director of breast cancer and gynecologic cancer research since 2015. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when Dr. Hamilton was in middle school, and thankfully is a survivor. Dr. Hamilton is passionate about personalized treatment, empowering her patients, and treating each person individually based on their goals and preferences. 

Dr. Hamilton received her undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University in Virginia and received a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. She then completed her medical degree and residency from University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and fellowship training in hematology and oncology at Duke University, where she was recognized as a Top 5 Finalist for Duke's Annual House staff Fellow Teaching Award.

Dr. Hamilton was named to the Women to Watch Class of 2021 for Nashville Medical News. She was selected for the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Leadership Development Class for 2021-2022, and was the past chair of ASCO’s Scientific Committee for Metastatic Breast Cancer for 2019-2020. She is the 2023-2025 Scientific Committee co-chair of the ESMO Breast Cancer Meeting, serves on ASCO’s Cancer Research Committee, ASCO’s Digital Content Committee, and is an associate editor for Clinical Breast Cancer. 

Dr. Hamilton is board certified in internal medicine and oncology. Additionally, she is a partner with Tennessee Oncology, PLL

Social Links & Website

• Twitter: SarahCannonDocs, ErikaHamilton9

• Facebook: Sarah Cannon Research Institute

• LinkedIn: Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Erika Hamilton

• Instagram: Sarah Cannon Cancer

• Website: https://sarahcannon.com/